Parents/teachers....8th grade trips to Washington DC

[Sequoia]

Hey, have any of you let your kid go to that 8th grade class trip to DC? My child got a notice about it but then I was reading that part about Home Land Security and hall monitors...sounds iffy. Then there's that story about those 8th graders on the trip who decided to have a swinging party when the adults were asleep.

[KitchenWitch]

1. My son went three years ago.

It was a very good experience for him.

[latebloomer]

2. My daughter's going Wednesday

What's the story with Homeland Security and hall monitors?

[Critters2]

3. Don't have kids, but a parishioner takes kids each year.

My church moderator is superintendent of two small k-8 districts near here. Both schools send their 8th graders (together) to Washington each year (my moderator always goes with). Another parishioner is a teacher, and goes every other year. They've never had any serious problems.

From what they've said, the biggest concern is having enough adults along so that kids aren't able to wander off by themselves. So, I would ask how many adults are going--what the kid to adult ratio will be. My own experience taking kids on mission trips and to General Synod would cause me to also ask what the disciplinary procedures will be if there are problems. We always make kids sign a behavioral covenant, complete with a statement of possible consequences. Signing it does seem to make kids more responsible for their actions...but there's always one!

So, if I were you, I'd ask some questions, but would probably let the child go. There are things every citizen should do and see. If your child has a chance to do so, I'd encourage it.

[JTG of the PRB]

4. I did that trip following my 8th grade year, and so did my sister.

We both had a great time with the groups we went with and got to see a lot of stuff. Granted, we went to two different Washington, D.C.s - I went on the trip back in 1997, and my sister went in 2002. Still, we both had a great time on our respective trips.

[TBreeze]

5. next year

My son's planning on going next year. Approx. 350 students from his school go every year.

[femmocrat]

6. Our school takes the kids every few years.... Sometimes they go to NYC.

If you have questions, you should contact the faculty advisor about teacher-to-student ratio, overnight supervision, etc.

Our school's policy is that if a kid misbehaves, the parents have to come and get him/her. I let both of my sons attend when they were in junior high. (I never went as a chaperone, though.) I think it's a worthwhile experience from an educational perspective.

[greenbriar]

11. We also went to NYC this year fabulous

great experience

saw the broadway show Legally Blonde

[Adsos Letter]

7. My daughter's school does it as a combined Junior/Senior History trip...

and they keep a close watch on 'em. The kids have a blast (7-day trip, includes Bull Run, etc.) and they don't have problems.

Main thing for us is cost (California to D.C.) but with group-rates and school underwriting, it ends up about $500 per student, plus some of the meals.

I say go for it.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

8. I don't know, but I was surrounded by approximately 768,836,288,732 of the little critters

When I was there in May. ARRGGGGHHHHHH!!! (sorry - I have no kids)

[Adsos Letter]

13. lol

As the father of two daughters, I must admit...critters they can be...and a sore testing of the patience, at times. :D

EDIT: ...especially when gathered in large, migratory herds...

[Withywindle]

9. My school did it in 6th grade.

Granted, we were in VA so it was only about a five-hour drive.

Even at that age, there were kids smuggling beers (I went to kind of rough hillbilly schools. :D). But no major disasters and a good time was had by all, except maybe the chaperones.

[greenbriar]

10. as an 8th grade teacher who has twice taken kids, it is AWESOME

Very well supervised.

This last April, I had 8 parents and 16 students plus two other teachers.


At night, students are usually in their room by 10 pm and the tour company we use (world strides) employees "guards" that stay up all night at various points in the hallway and there is NO swinging party


Everything is monitored ...every building you go into you pass through inspection, but it is a minor inconvenience to see some of the nations history

[greenbriar]

12. in addition, the students are usually well behaved

and WORN OUT because we start from the time we get off the airplane till 9 pm going to monumnets and buildings and exihibits

it is a huge walking trip and very exausting but worth EVERY penny

[Midlodemocrat]

14. *I* organized that party. Let him/her go. I'm on it.

Series. :rofl:

[AlCzervik]

15. My kid is going to Boston in October on her school trip, i paid the deposit today

i'm not worried about it. Of course i'll also be in Boston at the same time but i won't be anywhere near her class, i'll be visiting family.

[MountainLaurel]

16. I went in the 5th grade

Or rather the summer between 5th and 6th. Didn't suffer any irreparable harm.

[ScreamingMeemie]

17. We just got back from a trip to Mackinac Island with 4th graders...

There was never a time, at night, when there weren't two parents patrolling the halls. The kids were taped into their rooms at 9:30 PM and it was pretty uneventful...except for the part where I drew hallway patrol from 2:15-3AM... Sigh... If it is well planned, all should be fine.

[myrna minx]

18. I went in when I was in the 8th grade in the 1980's. It was a wonderful experience.

The chaperons taped the out side of the motel room doors to see if anyone left their room in the night, so no one dared to sneak out, because you would be busted by the tell. IF the chaperons are decent, ethical people, I'm sure your kid will be ok. I'd make sure that the chaperons have done this kind of trip before, so they know what to expect from middle schoolers.

[Shine]

19. ShineBoy leaves on his trip on the 13th....yes, Friday the 13th, that is

:scared: he's flying with 90 of his classmates from SF to DC and NY for a fun-filled, jam-packed trip.

It'll be a great experience for him. We're actually extending his trip and he'll take a train by himself down to DC from NY on the last day, to spend another week with my dad, good ole grandpa, who lives in VA.

:thumbsup:

[Sequoia]

20. Thanks everyone.

I was gone yesterday.